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Our department has seen a 45% drop in staff since 2019, with only 389 probation officers and 169 supervising officers remaining. This alarming decrease, with about 100 officers leaving in the past year, is driven by the lure of higher-paying jobs with probation departments in nearby counties, and other law enforcement agencies in New York City.
Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes testified to the City Council about the significant challenge of workforce attrition. Despite her assurance of preparedness, the reality is starkly different. City Probation Officers supervise over 14,000 individuals in the criminal justice system, a decrease from 17,299 adult and 770 juvenile cases in fiscal 2019, yet the workload remains immense and complex.
In 2021, our union sued the City of New York in federal court, arguing that our predominantly female, minority members face pay discrimination. This case is pending. Additionally, bail reform and New York’slaw have increased probation officer’s caseloads, leading to more youths being prosecuted in family court and sentenced to supervised release.